5/17/2012
Shepard Exposition Services, an events industry general service contractor, celebrated its entry into the Texas market last week with a $50,000 donation to the Jimmy Fore Endowment Scholarship at the University of Houston’s Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. The gift was announced during an Open House at Shepard’s newly opened, full-service Houston base—the company’s 10th location nationwide.

Shepard’s gift honors a trade show legend. “Jimmy had a significant impact on this industry and this business,” said Shepard owner Carl Mitchell. “We are honored to be able to contribute in his memory.”

Fore, who passed away in March 2011, began his career at the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau as sales manager after graduating from the University of Houston. Over the years, he built close ties to trade associations, convention executives and exhibit managers while running major facilities such as Chicago’s McCormick Place and the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Fore served as executive vice president of Houston’s Astrodome-Astrohall Stadium Corporation for 15 years.

The contribution highlights Shepard’s ongoing commitment to investing in hospitality education—including supporting programs at Georgia State University’s School of Hospitality and the Rosen School of Hospitality at the University of Central Florida.

“This gift both recognizes the impact Jimmie had on the industry and extends our support of these important programs,” said Shepard Vice President Richard Maples. Hilton College, a world leader in hospitality education, serves the industry with cutting-edge programs, enhanced experiential learning opportunities and practical research.

“Shepard’s endowment is truly great for the hospitality sector in that it helps build a brighter future for the entire industry,” said Wayne Chappell, VP of trade show relations at the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. More than 100 guests attended the open house at Shepard’s Houston facility, a regional hub that covers the Texas, Louisiana and Missouri markets.

About Shepard Exposition Services
Founded in Atlanta in 1905, Shepard Exposition Services is a leader in the exposition services industry. Today the privately held firm operates offices in 10 U.S. markets. Thanks to groundbreaking initiatives such as the Customer Concierge Program, the Customer Order Matrix, and other customer-focused innovations, Shepard consistently delivers high-quality services that support its overarching mission: “Your Success is Our Success.”
For more information, go to www.shepardes.com.